8 Best Cinematography Classes - Learn Cinematography Online

Want to learn about the different types of cameras and how to work with them? Wondering if you need to know about lighting? Here are the best cinematography classes for you to attend.

8 Best Cinematography Classes - Learn Cinematography Online

The Best Cinematography Classes online for beginners to learn Cinematography in 2024.

The core of great filmmaking lies in creative decision-making. Filmmaking requires a deep understanding of the equipment, but more importantly, it requires an understanding of how decisions you make—composition, exposure, lighting, etc.—impact the way the audience perceives the film.

Cinematography is the art and science of recording light and images on a sensor or film. Simply put, it is an art to use video cameras to film footage. It works with the position and operation of a camera.

In the film industry, the cinematographer is responsible for the technical aspects of image lighting, lens selection, composition, exposure, filtering, and film selection and works closely with the director to ensure the artistic and aesthetic support of the director's vision of how the story should be told.

Keeping this in mind, here at Coursesity, we have curated some of the Best Online Cinematography Classes with certification. Hope that you will find the best Cinematography Class for you to learn to ensure the artistic and aesthetic support of the director's vision of how the story should be told.

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Top Cinematography Classes List

  1. Cinematography Masterclass: The Complete Videography Guide

  2. Learning Cinematography: 1 Narrative Fundamentals Online Class

  3. The Complete Video Production Training Bootcamp

  4. 1 Person Crew Video Productions: Tips and Tricks Online Class

  5. Cinematography Course: Shoot Better Video with Any Camera

  6. Cinematography with Natural Light

  7. Cinematography: Introduction to Composition and Camera Movement

  8. Explore Filmmaking - Online Filmmaking Course - FutureLearn

1. Cinematography Masterclass: The Complete Videography Guide

Nine steps to set up, light, record audio & shoot your videos like a Filmmaking Pro.

In this course, you will learn how to:

  • shoot excellent-looking and sounding videos!
  • gain a film school-level understanding of how to shortlist, light, frame, shoot, and capture crystal clear audio.
  • get the confidence needed to film social media content, client projects, or personal projects from the ground up.
  • expand your creativity, production quality, cinematography, and passion as a video creator.
  • understand key video principles that you can use in all of your future projects.
  • improve your skillset and gain real-life video creating the experience.
  • tell stories in your videos that you are proud of whether you're shooting on a camera or smartphone.
  • understand the techniques that make people share, like, comment, and engage with your video content.

Initially, you will observe a high-end client shoot to see a behind-the-scenes look at how the video production process works. These lessons are packed with key filmmaking fundamentals and concepts for the rest of the course material to build on top of.

Next, you will get crystal clear on how to set your camera's functions, settings, and parameters. These foundational learning lessons will give you the confidence to get out and start shooting.

Learn how to effectively use all of the functions and settings on your camera. This Cinematography class will also teach you how to get the perfect exposure with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

You can take Cinematography Masterclass: The Complete Videography Guide certification course on Udemy.

Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 ( 805 Ratings total)
Duration: 6 h
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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2. Learning Cinematography: 1 Narrative Fundamentals Online Class

Learn how to shoot a motion picture and powerfully tell stories—from ASC cinematographer and professor Bill Dill. Part 1 covers narrative filmmaking techniques.

The course includes:

  • Before You Start Filming
  • Principles of Storytelling
  • Composition
  • Understanding the Camera
  • Optics
  • Exposure
  • Lighting
  • Camera Movement

This Cinematography class covers the basics needed to shoot a modern motion picture and tell stories in the most powerful way possible. Initially, it concentrates on narrative filmmaking: creating a world from scratch, using a script.

Plus, the class introduces the techniques that professional filmmakers use to maintain the illusion of reality in the middle of an otherwise artificial world.

You can take Learning Cinematography: 1 Narrative Fundamentals Online Class certification course on LinkedIn Learning.

Course rating: 50,303 total enrollments
Duration: 2 h 44 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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3. The Complete Video Production Training Bootcamp

Make better videos with the ultimate course on video production, planning, cinematography, editing & distribution.

In this course, you will learn how to:

  • create professional videos with the equipment you already have.
  • feel comfortable making your videos from conception and production to editing and posting online.
  • choose equipment if you are a beginner video creator.
  • choose the right video to make with the best story.
  • shoot great video with any camera.
  • record better audio with a variety of microphones.
  • set up basic video lights, including using natural lighting for your videos.
  • understand the process of editing a video and how to make whatever you shoot more engaging.
  • post videos online and get the most engagement.

Here, you will learn cinematography basics such as how to expose your video, how to compose great shots, how to film yourself, how to get great focus, and how to stabilize your shots.

Next, you will learn how to record great audio. First, the course will cover the different types of microphones, and how to choose the right microphone for your video project. Then, you will learn how to use the different types of microphones. Plus, you'll learn how to record audio in any environment, including getting rid of echo.

Plus, you'll learn how to use free and inexpensive lighting techniques, and how to set up a lighting kit like the pros using the three-point lighting system. Once you understand everything about shooting your video, you'll learn how to find free music for your videos, how to design better titles, and how to use calls to action to increase engagement and conversion.

By the end of this Cinematography class, you'll learn how to better share your videos with the world. Learn how to choose the right platform for your video content.

You can take The Complete Video Production Training Bootcamp certification course on Udemy.

Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 ( 8,137 Ratings total)
Duration: 9 h
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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4. 1 Person Crew Video Productions: Tips and Tricks Online Class

Learn how to work as a one-person crew to maximize your filmmaking potential while lowering your overhead.

The course includes:

  • Person Crew Video Productions
  • Advantages and disadvantages of a one-person crew
  • Staying creative
  • DaVinci Resolve cut page
  • Simplified Adobe Premiere proxy workflow
  • Selecting the right video bag
  • Working with translators
  • Get comfortable in front of the camera
  • Working routines
  • Bulletproof camera menus

This Cinematography class highlights the advantages and disadvantages of working solo, sharing examples gleaned from his own experiences working around the globe. It provides tips for speeding up your editing workflow, getting the right gear, and tightening up your working routine to get the most out of every day.

Plus, it also offers suggestions for getting comfortable in front of the camera, finding fascinating subjects, and more.

You can take 1 Person Crew Video Productions: Tips and Tricks Online Class certification course on LinkedIn Learning.

Course rating: 50,303 total enrollments
Duration: 2 h 44 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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5. Cinematography Course: Shoot Better Video with Any Camera

Shoot better video by learning the video production techniques used by Hollywood filmmakers.

In this course, you will learn how to:

  • shoot beautiful video with any camera - from professional cinema to your iPhone.
  • get paid to shoot video as a cinematographer/videographer.
  • expose properly with ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture.
  • light your set like a professional director of photography.
  • work and navigate a film set.
  • choose the right tools (camera, lights, stabilization).

Initially, you'll learn the basics of cinematography including choosing the right camera, ISO, frame rate, shutter speed, f-stop/aperture, and lens options. Next, you will learn how to expose your videos properly, including learning the different styles of exposure styles of commercial, TV, and narrative filmmaking.

Learn how camera movement with tripods, handheld, dollys, Steadicam systems, and drones can help you take beautiful shots. You will also learn how to light your video shots with different styles and lighting kits.

Plus, you will learn how to work with the producer, director, camera team, grip and electric team, and other departments on a film set. Finally, this Cinematography class will teach you how to find work as a cinematographer/videographer.

You can take Cinematography Course: Shoot Better Video with Any Camera certification course on Udemy.

Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 ( 3,573 Ratings total)
Duration: 3 h
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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6. Cinematography with Natural Light

Craft beautiful images using available light to enhance your story and awaken a sense of curiosity within the viewer.

The course includes:

  • Introduction to Cinematography
  • Pre Production
  • The Shoot: High Key (Daytime) Lighting
  • The Shoot: Low Key (Nighttime) Lighting
  • Post Production

This Cinematography class shows you the entire process when working with available light. From the pre-production process and working with mood boards and storyboards; the shooting stage using different intensities of light; to the post-production in DaVinci Resolve.

Learn how to recreate the vision of a project through storyboards and use a template to create your own in Photoshop. Then, you will learn how to scout for locations and go through the process of the tech recce.

Plus, you will learn how you can prepare your scene according to what you planned in the pre-production stage and shoot your closeups. The class also guides you through the different angles and lighting options to enhance the quality of your shots.

You can take "Cinematography with Natural Light" - Photography, and Video online course by Albin Sjödin certification course on Domestika.

Course rating: 1,572 total enrollments
Duration: 3 h 8 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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7. Cinematography: Introduction to Composition and Camera Movement

Throughout these lessons, you will delve into the key concepts and techniques of composition and camera movement.

The course includes:

  • Introduction to Composition and Camera Movement
  • Aspect Ratio
  • The Rule of Thirds
  • Shot Sizes
  • Movement vs. Rotation
  • Why Filmmakers Move the Camera
  • The Camera Tripod
  • The Camera Dolly
  • The Camera Jib/Crane

Throughout these lessons, you will learn the key concepts and techniques of composition and camera movement. You will start by learning about the "frame" and the terminology used when speaking about composition onset or with other creatives.

Next, you will learn about the tripod, dolly, and crane. This Cinematography class will educate you on how each different "camera support" moves the camera and the terminology associated with it.

By the end, you will have learned some important fundamentals of cinematography that are useful for live-action and virtual/CG filmmaking.

You can take Cinematography: Introduction to Composition and Camera Movement certification course on Pluralsight.

Course rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 ( 54 Ratings total)
Duration: 36 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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8. Explore Filmmaking - Online Filmmaking Course - FutureLearn

Learn how films go from script to screen and explore filmmaking opportunities with this online filmmaking course from NFST and the BFI filmmaking academy.

In this course, you will learn:

  • differences between story and theme in a film.
  • different roles involved in a film shoot.
  • contribution of the camera to storytelling.
  • role of editing in telling a story on film.
  • how to identify the contribution of sound and music to a film's meaning.

Here, you will explore a variety of film production specialisms, from writing and directing to cinematography, editing, and composing. This film production course from the NFTS and the BFI Film Academy will deepen your understanding of the filmmaking process and show you how to take it further – whether making your short films, thinking about a career, or simply a deeper appreciation of the films you watch.

You can take Explore Filmmaking - Online Filmmaking Course - FutureLearn certification course on Futurelearn.

Course rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 ( 188 Ratings total)
Duration: 36 m
Certificate: Certificate on completion

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